Force of wire in a magnetic field

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the force exerted on a wire carrying a current of 2.97 A positioned at an angle of 37.4° in a magnetic field of 0.889 T. The formula used is F = ILBsin(theta), where F is the force, I is the current, L is the length of the wire, and B is the magnetic field strength. The user initially calculated the force as -1.867 N but later realized the error stemmed from using the sine function in radian mode instead of degree mode. The correct calculation should yield a positive force value.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the formula F = ILBsin(theta)
  • Knowledge of current (I), magnetic field strength (B), and wire length (L)
  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions, specifically sine
  • Ability to switch between degree and radian modes on a calculator
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the application of the formula F = ILBsin(theta) in different scenarios
  • Learn about the effects of angle on force calculations in magnetic fields
  • Explore the significance of unit conversions in physics problems
  • Study common mistakes in trigonometric calculations and how to avoid them
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone involved in electromagnetism or electrical engineering who seeks to understand the interaction between current-carrying wires and magnetic fields.

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Homework Statement



A wire with a current of 2.97 A is at an angle of 37.4° relative to a magnetic field of 0.889 T. Calculate the force exerted on a 2.40 m length of the wire.

Homework Equations



F= ILBsin(theta)

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm under the impression that the problem gives me all the information i need, so:

F - The force I need to find
I - The given current 2.97A
L - Length of wire - 2.4m
B - .889T
sin(37.4) = -.2948 (Could my mistake be here?)

I multiply all of these values together (2.97A)(2.4m)(.889T)(-.2948) and i get = -1.867N, which isn't correct... any suggestions?
 
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Your calculator is in radian mode. That's all.
 
Thanks very much, problem solved!
 

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